Hoisting mechanism



B. S. SNOW.

HOISTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1921.

l 4 9fi53o. PatentedSept. 19, 1922,.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- B. s. smuw. HOISTING MECHANISM.

v AF'FILICATION FILED MAR-18, 1921- 1 429 53 PatentedSept. 19,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Sept. is, teraonn rs stares intents earner @FFHQE. t

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' Application filed March 18, mi. Serial No. 453,421.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known I, BARTON S. SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia,

in the county of Kane and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hoisting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My 'nventionfrelates generally to improvements in hoisting mechanisms employing a cable through the medium of which the load to be elevated is operated, and

more particularly. to hoisting mechanism provided-for elevatingcoal from one level lnto a storage bin at a higher level from which the coal is tov be permitted to discharge, under the control of an operator,

into the tenders of locomotives, these hoisting mechanisms commonl being formed of a drum upon which the ca le is wound, with the oppositeend of the cable connected with a pair of oppositely moving hoisting buckets where twd buckets are employed, Or with a bucket and a counterweight where one bucket is employed, the counterweight usually being of a weight equal tosubstantially onehalf the weight of the bucket and the material carried thereby, so that the hoist operates at all'times against the resistance of a weight tending to rotate the hoist drum so reversely.

In hoisting mechanisms of the general character above referred to, it is common practicev to provide means whereby in the event of the reversing of the direction of rotation of the drum'bythe load, as for example where the power for operating the drum is shut off, or through accident, as by breaking of parts, the drum becomes free to .reversely rotate, the drum will be sub- 46 jected to a braking action which will hold it against such reverse movement; and it is one of my objects to provide a hoisting mechanism involving such means, which will be simple and economical of manufacture, and operate positively in the case of the reversal of the/rotation of the drum by the action of the load when rotatin in either direction. Also hoisting mechanisms of the general type, and more particularly of the 50 kind'referred to for the specific purpose above stated,'viz.,- that in connection with coalingstations, are usually provided in what are termed hoist houses, the hoisting mechanism being provided with a gypsy or niggerhead through the medium of which the coaling cars are caused to be moved lnto a positlon wherein they dump coal to be elevated, into the lower bin from which latterit discharges into the hoisting buckets. It is necessary in practice that the hoist house be so located relative to the elevating apparatus operated by the hoisting mechanism, that the hoisting drum will line up properly with themechanism with which 1t cooperates, it being necessary in some cases to position the hoist house at oneside of the buckets, and in other cases to place the hoist house at the opposite side of the bucket apparatus, 'dependingupon the particular conditions presented, it being required that v7t) the niggerhead in either case be located adacent the coa'ling track. The conditions presented by coaling stations, as commonly PIOVldGd, are such, particularly because of the relatively small space between the coaling track and the service track upon which the tenders to be filled with coal from the upper storage bin, run, that as hoist mocha-c nisms have. hitherto been provided .it has been necessary to provide difierent constructions' of v hoist mechanism depending upon whichside of the bucket-mechanism. they are required to be placed, in order to properly line up the drum with the bucket apparatus and to have the .nig- 85 gerhead adjacent the coalingtrack. One of my objects has to do with this general situation, it bein my purpose to provide a construction of oisti n mechanism which may, by reipositioning 0 its part, with the minimum 'sassembling thereof, be suitable for location in the proper'working position, at eitherside of the bucket apparatus, thereby permitting it to be installed at either side thereof or'changed from one side to the other, as desired.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my'improved hoistrnlg mechanism, with the hoisting cable omitted. Figure 2 is a view in side elevation ice of the same. Figure. 3 is an end view thereof, the machine bein shown as viewed from \the left hand side 0 Fig.1; and Figure a section taken at the line 4 on Fig, 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

The frame of the machine involves a rigid base-frame 4 having a lateral extension 5 at one end thereof and provided at opposite sides with upright frames 6 affording jour- 7 nal support for aidrum shaft 75, one end of 1M this shaft extending laterally beyond the frame 4 and carrying a niggerhead 8 as is usual in hoisting mechanisms. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 7 is a hoist-ing drum 9' as is commonly employed, the shaft 7 being provided with a clutch device 10,which may be of commonconstruction and operated through the medium of a hand lever 11 for releasably clutching the drum 9 to the shaft 7, the drum 9 being provided with a series of clutch lugs 12 grouped about'the shaft 7 and extending lengthwise thereof, which are adapted to intermesh with. clutch lugs 13 on the clutch 10. The clutch lever 11 is pivoted at 11 to a bracket 11 secured to the adjacent upright by a bolt 11. The shaft 7 has rigidly secured thereto a worm wheel '14 which meshes with a worm 15 shown as extending horizontally with its axis at a right angle to the axis .of the shaft 7. The worm 15 is rigidly secured to a shaft16v journaled in spaced-apart boxes 17 connected with the adj acent one of the uprights 6 and in a box 18 rising from the frame 4 adjacent the ex tension 5, the box 18 being secured to the base by bolts 18 extending through holes in the base. The shaft 16 is shown as provided with clutch mechanism 200 which may be of common construction, operated through the medium of a lever 20 fixed on a shaft 21 j ournaled in the frames 6, this clutch being pro- I vided for clutching to the shaft 16, at the will of the operator a belt pulley 22 journaled on the shaft 16 as for a purpose hereinafter stated. In the arrangement shown 1 the shaft 21 carries two sleeves 46 rigidly secured thereto and provided with arms 46? which are pivoted at their ends to the ends of links through the medium of which the sliding clutch-part is operated; The shaft 16 is also provided with a gear 23 rigid thereon which meshes with a pinion 24 mgidly securedto an armature shaft. 25 of an electric motor represented at 26 and which,

when the drum'is to be reversely rotated against the action of a load, as hereinbefore mentioned, is provided of the reversible type.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the drive for the drum 9 is from the motor 26 through pinion 25, gear 24, shaft 16, worm 15, worm wheel 14, shaft 7 and clutch 19, the motor 26 operating to drive the drum 9 in a direction responsive to the direction of the rotation of the motor 26;

' the opposite ends of a single cable (not shown) wound about the drum 9 as is common practice, and thereupon reverse the rotation of the motor 26, following an interval of rest during which ,the filled bucket is dumped and the empty bucket is loaded, the motor being reversed to efiect the reversing of the rotation of the drum 9 to raisethe newly filled bucket and lower the bucketjust emptied to automatically control the speed of movement of the buckets while passing through different portions of the paths they travel; and to automatically continue the cycle of operations described, until the operator shuts off the mechanisms. The mechanisms shown for this purpose which, how ever, are shown by way of example only, involve what are commonly known as machinecam-limit switch mechanism represented generally at 2,7 and an electrical timing device for actuating the motor after each period of rest, represented at 100, the mechanism 27 being shown as mounted upon a board 28 supported from the base frame '4 by uprights 29 and 30 rising from the base frame, the board containing elongated openings 28 through'which and through openings in the uprights 29 and 30, bolts 28 supporting the board 28, pass. As the switch mechanisms 27 and 100 referred to are of common construction and arecommonly em-- ployed in ho-isting mechanism for controlling the automatic reversal of a drum-driving motor, description thereof is rendered unnecessary] It may be stated, however, that the switch mechanisms 27 and 100 are operated from a shaft31 journaled in brack ets 32 projecting laterally from the board 28. and operating when this shaft isrot-ated throughout a certain number of degrees to throw the switches controlling the motor for reversing the operation'of the latter, with the proper time interval between the stopping and the starting of the motor prior to each reversal thereof for maintaining the buckets at rest during the 'filling and the dumping thereof. In the particular arrangement shown the shaft 31 is driven froin the drum 9, through the medium of a sprocket 33 rigid with the drum and connected, by a sprocket chain 36,, with'a sprocket 34 on a shaft 35 journaled .in abeari-ng 35 secured to the upright 30 of the machine, as by the bolt 35" passing through holes in the bearing 35 and in the upright 30, the shaft 35 being provided with a pinion 37 meshing with, 120

and driving, a gear 38 rigid on the shaft 31. The ratios of the various driving elements between the drum 33 and the shaft 31 are such that the drum 9 will be caused'to rotate in each direction the number of times necessary to produce the desired length of travel of the buckets, viz, from filling position to discharging position and vice versa.

The pitch of the teeth of the worm'wheel 14 and the worm 1-5, is such that while the drum is driven through these elements first eas es the drum.

"One of the features of my improved construction consists in positioning the drum on the shaft 7 at a point midway between the portions of .this shaft at which the latter engages the hearings in the frame 6, whereby the drum is caused to occupy a centralized position relative to the median line of the frame whether the shaft 7 be in the position shown in the drawings, or reversed end for end, as hereinafter referred to.

As hereinbefore stated, the boxes 17 for "the shaft 16 are supported on one of the frame-members 6, and to cause these boxes to assume the proper'position; whether this frame member is located at one side of the frame of the hoist, or at'its other side (the latter being the case where the parts of the mechanism arelreversed as hereinafter described) I preferably form the frame member referred to as shown in Fig. 4, Viz, by

providing corresponding seating bosses 39 and 40 at opposite sides of the line connect-f fling the bolt holes 41 at which the framemember is secured to the base 4 of the ma:

chine, whereby the outer faces of the bosses 40 will be located from the median line of the frame 4, with the parts of the mechanism assembled to the position shown in Fig. 1, the same distance as the outer faces of the bosses 39 from the median line of the frame 4, when the frame 6 referred to is used at the opposite side of the frame, viz, when the parts of the structure shown are assembled in reverse position. The openings in these bosses and through which the bolts (not shown) for securing the boxes 17 in place, extend, are represented at 6*, the supporting frame 6 being preferably flanged at opposite sides, as indicated at 42 and 43, to serve as abutments for the adjacent edges of the boxes 17. Where it is desired that the niggerhead 8 carried by-the shaft 7, extend from the end of this shaft at the upper side of Fig. 1, the various parts of the mechanism described and illustrated would be assembled to the positions shown in the drawings. Where, however, it is desired that the shaft 7 present the niggerhead thereon at the opposite side of the hoist, viz, at the lower portion of. the structure in Fig. 1, and which involves the turning of the shaft 7 end for end, the various parts would be repositioned as follows, assuming that the reversal'referred to is to be made after the hoist has been assembled to the position shownin the drawings; the shaft 7 together with the worm 14, sprocket 33, drum 9, clutch mechanism 10 and operating lever 11, all in assembled condition with the shaft 7, the clutch 11 being disconnected atits pivot 11 from the bracket 11", would be lifted out of the bearings provided by the supporting frames 6, the upper portions of the bearings having been first removed and the shaft 7 then turned end for end and set into the hearings in the frames 6. The shaft 16 with the parts carried thereby is then removed, in assembled condition with the journals 18 and 17 therefor (the bolts connecting the journal boxes 17 with the frame 6 and the bolts 18*, having been removed) to the opposite side of the frame 4 to engage the worm 15 with the wormwheel 14, the journal-box 18 being secured to the frame 4 at the openings 44 therein which are positioned at the same distance from the median line of the frame, as the holes therein through which the bolts 18 pass in the position of the box 18 as shown in the drawings, and the journal boxes 17 then secured to the outer surfaces of the bosses 39 of the frame 6 opposite the one to which they were formerly secured. All of 6 maybe alike, or.

the supporting frames they may be pr vided of two kinds, one like that shown in Fig: 4 to present oppositelyfacing bosses 39 and 40, and the other unprovided with bosses. In the case where all of the frames 6 are provided with the bosses, 3

the frames may be used interchangeably at either side of the hoist, but where one of the frames 6 is provided with the bosses and the other is not, the supporting frames 6 will be transposed upon reversing the positions of the parts of the hoist as hereinbee fore suggested, to, cause the one of these frames provided with the bosses to extend adjacentthe new location of the worm 15 and thus present the bosses 39 for attachment thereto of the boxes 17.' Following the end to end reversal of the shaft 7 as stated the bracket 11 is removed and secured to the opposite frame 6 in position to have the clutch lever 11 pivotally connected. therewith, both of these frames having similarly-l'ocated bolt-receiving holes for the bolts 11;

In the shifting of the shaft 16 to the new location as suggested, the clutch-operating arms 45 would be disconnected, from the arms 46 and the sleeve portions 46 would be slid along the shaft 21 to a position adjacent the opposite end thereof and thereupon rigidly secured thereto, and' reconnect-.

ed with the arms 45 in the new location of the shaft 16. The motor 26, being lined up with the median line of the frame 4,

no i

' out of line with the median line of the motor 26, provision is made for shifting the board 28 crosswise of the hoist, this being possible by reasonof the provision of the slots 28*. In the reversing of the parts as stated, it

is preferred that the gear 38 be removed shown) for the bolt so positioned that from the shaft 31 and the bearing,35 dis connected from the support 30, the gear 38 being applied to the opposite end of the shaft 31 and the bearing 35 being shifted to the upright 29, which latter contains a hole (not the bearing 35 will extend atthe same distance from the median line of the base l as it does in the position shown in the ,chine' to the driving of another mechanism,

drawings. In this position the parts of the gears 38 and 37 mesh and the sprocket 34: is lined up with the sprocket 33 for receiving the driving sprocket chain 36. It will therefore be understood that by forming the hoist of the parts as stated, the hoist may be provided as either a right or'left hand hoist, which is ,n0t only of advantage in the initial constructing of the hoist, as the same parts are used whether it be a right or left hand hoist, but is also of advantage when it becomes desirable tochange' the hoist from a left hand to a-right hand hoist or vice versa, on the job, ,such change not necessitating any substitution of parts, but merely the transposing of certain parts' In this connection it willbe noted that the shaft 7 and the parts carried thereby are reversible end for end, as a unit, the. drum 9 being lined up with the median line of the frame 7 4: in'either position of the shaft 7, thereby rendering unnecessary the lateral shifting. of the frame 4, to line up the drum l) withthe bucket mechanism; p

The shaft 16 is provided with the belt pulley andclutch described to adapt themav if desired, as for example an'air-compressor the clutch 200 controlling the connection of often used in coaling-station installations,

the belt pulley to the shaft 16, and when the, mechanism is used for the purpose just stated, the clutch 10 would be moved to a position to unclutch the drum 9 from the shaft 7. I v

- It will be understood that, if desired, the switch mechanism 27 may be so constructed and positioned that shifting of the latter is Leaaeee 'of said bearings in eithe nected with said shaft through, the" medium end, as a unit, and said drum being located having bearings spacedapart, a shaft mount- 105 being located midway of said bearings in ing said shaft and including a bearing strucnot necessary in the transposing of the parts as described. l i

The feature of driving the mechanism 27 from the drum 9 instead of directly from the shaft 7 is of advantage as thereby the proper timed relation of the drum and the mechanism 27 is maintained.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

' 1. In a hoist, the combination of a frame having bearings spaced apart, a shaft mounted in said bearings and rovided with a gypsy, a drum on said sha t, an element on 85' said shaft through the medium of which. said shaft is rotated, said shaft, drum .and element being reversible, end for end, as a unit, and said drum being located midway r position of said i r 2. In a hoist, the combination of a frame having bearings spaced apart, a shaft mount ed in said bearings, a drum rotatably mounted on said shaft, an element operatively conof which. the latter is rotated, clutch mechanism on said shaft for clutching said drum to'said shaft, said shaft, drum element and clutch mechanism being reversible, end for midway.of said b of said shaft.

3. In a hoist,-the combination of earings in either position a frame ed in said bearings, a drum on said shaft, a worm. .wheel on said shaft through the medium of which the latter is rotated, said shaft drum and wormflwhe'el being'rever'sible, end for end, as a' unihand said drum either position of said shaft. u

4. In a hoist, the combination ofa base provided with uprights at opposite sides thereof affdrding bearings spaced apart, a

shaft mounted in said bearings, a drum on said shaft, an element on said shaft through the medium of which the latter is rotated, and means engaging said element for rotatture supported on one of said uprights, said median line, whereby when said bearing structure is secured to said upright when the latter is at either side of the base said bearing structure will extend at the same, distance from the median line of the base. i

5; In a hoist, the combination of a frame. having" bearings spaced apart, a shaft mounted on saidbea'rings'a drum on said 126 upright being of the same form and size at------ .the portions thereof. on opposite sides of its raaaeea shaft, an element on said shaft through the medium of which said shaft is rotated, said shaft, drum and element being reversible, end for end, as a unit, driving means for said shaft engaging said element and com- 7 prising a driven shaft operatively in engagement with said element and adapted to be driven, said driven shaft being journaled on the frame of the hoist, said shaft and the 'bearings'therefor being adapted to be transposed to the opposite side of said frame to position it in operative relation to said element on said first-referred-to shaft, and to the power device, in the end to end reversed position of said first-referred-to shaft.

6. In a hoist, the combination of a frame having bearings spaced apart, a shaft mounted in said bearings, a drum on said shaft, an element on said shaft through the medium of which the latter is rotated, said shaft, drum and element being reversible,

end for end, as a'unit, and said drum being located midway of said bearings in either ,position of said shaft, a power device, the shaft of which is in line with a point midway between the sides of said drum, a driven shaftjournaled on said frame, means for driving said driven shaft from said power device, and means for driving said drumequipped shaft from said driven shaft, the

bearings for said driven shaft being transposable to the opposite side pf the machine for properly positioning the driven shaft relative to said element on the first-referredto shaft, and said power device, in the end.

to end reversed position of said first-referred-to shaft.

' 7 .y In a hoist, the combination of a frame having bearings spaced apart, a shaft mounted in saidbeari'ngs, a drum on said shaft, an element on said shaft at one side of the center of the drum and through the medium of which said shaft is rotated, certain of said parts being transposable for.

causing said element to extend at the opposite side of the center of the drum, a formdevice, the shaft of whichjs in line with a point midway between said journals, a driven shaft journaled on said frame, a gear on said driven shaft, a gear on said power having bearings spaced apart, a shaft mounted in said bearings, a drum on said shaft, an element on said shaft through the medium of which the latter is rotated, said shaft drum and element being reversible, end for end, as a unit, and said drum being located midway between the sides of said drum, a driven shaft journaled on said frame, a gear on saiddriven shaft, a gear on said power device meshing with the gear on said driven shaft, and means for driving said drum-equipped shaft from said driven shaft, the bearings for said driven shaft being transposable to the opposite side of the machine for properly positioning the driven shaft relative to said element on the first-referred-to shaft; and said power device, in the end to end reversed position of said first-referred-t'o shaft.

9. In a hoisting mechanism, the combination of a shaft,-a drum rotatably mounted thereon, means releasably connecting together said drum and shaft, a reversible power device for driving said shaft in opposite directions, and means, operated by said drum, operating automatically to control the movement of said power device in opposite directions, saidmechanism being adapted for "transmitting power for a plurality of purposes including as one purpose the driving of said drum, and said power device being operable in one direction when said drum is-disconnected from said shaft.

10. In a hoisting mechanism the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatably mounted i thereon, means releasably connecting tpgethersaid drum and shaft, an electrical reversible power-device for driving said shaft in opposite directions, and means, operated by said drum, operating automatically to control the movement of said power device in opposite directions, said mechanism being adapted for transmitting power for a plurality of purposes including as one purpose the driving of said drum, and said power device being operable in one direction when said'drum is disconnected from said shaft.

11. In a hoisting mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a drum rotatably mounted thereon, means releasably connecting to gether said drum and shaft, a reversible electric motor for driving said shaft in opposite directions'and switch mechanism operated by said drum operating automatically to control the movement of said motor in opposite' directions, said mechanism being adapted for transmitting power for a plurality of purposes including as one purpose the driving of said drum, and said power said drum is disconnected fromsaid shaft,

device being operable in one direction when 

